The nurse at my doctor's office told me that I may not be able to have the band done as I have had several ab surgeries before. I have the class on August 19th then will have my appointment with the surgeon within the next two weeks after. I plan to have surgery, if insurance approves, in October or November.

The nurse told me that because of scar tissue that I may not be able to have this done. I just wondered if anyone else has had this done with previous surgery in the ab?

It would depend on where the scar tissue is. Perhaps they meant that they might not be able to do it via laparoscopy? If you don't mind me asking how many ab surgeries have you had? And were they all on the same areas?

You can have the lapband put in via open surgery. Perhaps this could be an option. I don't really know I'm just really thinking of different scenarios.

I have a scar from my breastbone down to my belly button and my surgeon said it shouldn't be a problem. She said the surgery might take a little bit longer because of scar tissue, but that it won't stop me from being able to have the surgery done.

I have had a c-section and nother operation in the area, which should not be a problem. But I have had 1 lapascopic surgery to remove part of an ovary and my appendix. Which they found a tumor in ( appendix, which was cancer) so then they did a right colon recection(sp?) to check for more cancer. By the way they did not find any and I am now 3 years cancer free :-). Those are the two scars that I am worried about.

From what I have read it looks like they do this surgery above the belly button, which if true, I should be ok. As most of my operations are below the belly button.

I asked my nurse about having it open surgery and she acted like I was crazy, said that this was a lap surgery and she has never heard of it being open. My first thought was OMG find a new doc. But I will see what the doctor says when I get to meet him next month.

I will keep you all posted as to what he says.

thanks for your replies as the more information I get on this the easier it is to set my mind to do this.

I had open Gall Bladder surgery 12 years before I had Lap-Band surgery. My Doctor went right through the scar tissue. Yes, it did take a little longer but it wasn't that big of a deal. I think I might have been just a little more sore then I would have been if I didn't have the scar tissue, but everything was OK. My port incision overlapped my Gall Bladder incision. (Although now my port incision is very faded and almost gone).

I would be a little worried to about a nurse who worked with Lap-Band patients and didn't know this.

I'm glad we're discusing this. I too have had other sugeries, on 3/8/00 gull bladder removed (no biggie), on 5/8/00 Colon removed and recum replumbed (8 inch scar from my bellybutton down) and 2 c-sections. I was told that it might take longer to do the procedure, but shouldn't be a problem. My Lap is sceduled for 8/14/03. I'll keep you posted on the outcome.

Vera

Vera, please keep me posted on how your surgery goes. I will be thinking of you. I have my class on August 19th and am hoping to be banded in October. I will keep you all posted on the outcome.

Isn't it just great having a road map on your tummy? :-)

Hi there. I had two C-sections (1988 & 1994) and a radical hysterectomy in 1995, and my band was inserted laparascopically in 11/02 with no problems whatsoever. All of my scar tissue was lower than the area they worked in. Best of luck to you! Please keep us posted.

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Barb B. in Missouri

11/20/02

Dr. de la Torre

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